Mumbai: Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat on Thursday expressed confidence in India’s young generation, saying he trusts Gen-Z “blindly”.
Speaking at an event in Mumbai’s Nita Mukesh Ambani Cultural Centre (NMACC), Bhagwat said the concerns of young people should be addressed through engagement, rather than alienation.
“Anti-national to hai nahin, apne log hain. Apni next generation hai (They are not anti-national. They are our own people. They are our next generation),” Bhagwat said about some of the protesters being labelled ‘anti-nationals’ during recent protests at Jantar Mantar, which ultimately led to the resignation of Union Education minister Dharmendra Pradhan.
The RSS chief called for greater dialogue between the government and young people, as well as greater compassion and understanding.
“I have spoken about dialogue before. There has to be a relationship first. When that relationship exists, there is dialogue. We understand their concerns and they understand ours. That is what should happen,” he said.
He rejected the theory that Gen-Z and Gen Alpha were less committed than previous generations, saying his experience had been quite the opposite.
“Whenever I have been asked about them, I have said this, and I repeat it today. I believe this new generation — Gen Z and Gen Alpha — is more honest than our existing generation. It has a stronger feeling of patriotism and service,” Bhagwat opined.
Asked about the use of tear gas and pellet guns during last month’s protests, Bhagwat said he did not have authentic information about the incidents.
“If I had to believe, I will believe Gen-Z. But we do not know the reality. Both of us are conversing on the basis of information available through reports. There has also been reports of some anti-social modules present in this movement. But then we cannot talk without authentic information,” Bhagwat expressed.
The RSS chief believed that education should not become a commercial activity.
“Education is not a commercial business. Community help can improve the education system. Financial burden of education is huge. We need to be vigilant, active and need to assess the system regularly. We also need to train our teachers. It is not just the government’s responsibility to educate but it is a social responsibility,” Bhagwat said.
#WATCH | Mumbai, Maharashtra: On recent students’ protest and protesters called ‘anti-nationals’, RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat says, “If Gen Z is protesting, they are not anti-nationals. They are our own people, our next generation…I do not believe Gen Z is like that…I think the… pic.twitter.com/Bxkg4uLS2Z
— ANI (@ANI) August 6, 2026
